Wes Welker got acquainted with his new quarterback and fellow Broncos wide receivers at a passing camp at Duke University last week. / Gerry Broome, AP

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. â?? Wes Welker's introduction to the Denver Broncos has come with plenty of homework.

In his first week of offseason workouts with his new team, Welker has taken an old-school approach to learning the Broncos playbook and everything that his new quarterback, Peyton Manning, will ask of him.

"It's almost like being a rookie again," Welker told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "Basically just going to flash cards, drawing everything out, writing everything out. Mentally, I do it in my mind, over and over and over, so when we get out there on the field, it's a lot easier."

Immersing himself in the Broncos' language and playbook has been just part of Welker's plan to look forward to his new life in Denver, and not backward on what went wrong with the end of his tenure with the New England Patriots.

"You can't ever look like that. I don't think too much about the past," Welker said. "Everything is forward from here, and just helping the Broncos win."

Welker signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Broncos early in free agency after he could not agree to a new contract with the Patriots, for whom he starred for six seasons. Welker rejected a contract from the Patriots before the 2012 season, and while playing under the franchise tag, he caught 118 passes and made the Pro Bowl. He was given what his agents later described as a "take-it-or-leave-it offer" for significantly less than the 2012 offer.

Welker declined to talk about the failed negotiations or the conflicting stories from Welker's agents and Patriots owner Bob Kraft, who last month told news reporters that Welker's representatives had misrepresented the receiver's market value.

"I think it's better to keep all of that quiet. I don't like getting caught up in all of that," Welker said.

Instead, he's trying to play catch-up in a Denver offense entering Year 2 of the Manning era, with plans to increase the tempo as Manning and his teammates are far more familiar with each other than they were a year ago.

As soon as he signed with the Broncos, Welker began studying film of Denver's 2012 offense, and it wasn't hard to picture himself in it. Denver frequently played out of a three-receiver set, with Brandon Stokley or tight end Jacob Tamme lined up in the slot, and the Broncos figure to try to keep Welker, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker on the field together as much as possible in 2013.

This week, Thomas and Decker, both coming off breakout seasons in 2012, said they understood the addition of Welker means their catch totals might drop in 2013. Welker, who averaged 112 catches a season during his six years in New England, won't complain if his stats drop as well.

"I hope they do, because that means we're doing really well as an offense," Welker said.

He caught passes from Manning for the first time last week at passing camp at Duke University, along with Thomas and Decker, and noticed at least one common trait shared by his new quarterback, and his old one, Tom Brady.

"There is no secret to their success â?? they work really, really hard," Welker said.

Now at Dove Valley, Welker is allowed to meet with offensive coordinator Adam Gase for the first time. As soon as Gase was promoted from quarterbacks coach to replace Mike McCoy as coordinator in January, Gase spoke of wanting the Broncos to operate more quickly on offense. No team did that better in 2012 than the Patriots, who averaged nearly 75 plays a game.

"Playing faster, there definitely are advantages to it," Welker said. "Mentally, you're thinking about the signals and the plays, and physically you're running up and down and getting set. And then seeing the defense and everything that happens and reacting. It's definitely challenging, and it's challenging for the defense as well. When you get it going fast, it's tough."

Welker and his wife, Anna, are shopping for a new house in Denver and making plans to move their belongings out of their home in Boston. Welker spent his final weekend before the Broncos began their offseason program in Kentucky, watching his 3-year-old thoroughbred racehorse (aptly named "Undrafted") race in the Blue Grass Stakes.

Welker was hoping Undrafted would earn a spot in next month's Kentucky Derby, but the horse finished in 13th place, well out of the money.

"This was the first (horse) really that we had a chance with," Welker said. "Wait till the next one."

But the horse racing is a hobby, an offseason diversion now over for the time being.

That means he can give Manning and his Broncos future, and not his Patriots past, his undivided attention.

"I've always been at the point in my career where everything is about winning," Welker said. "I want to win, and I think everyone is at that point, but for me, definitely."